A quiet end game for two controversial projects

While they were a vote in progress, council chambers was packed and people lined up at public hearings to discuss keeping Ocean Strand on A1A a park and restoring Lake Wyman.

But there was hardly anyone left in chambers when City Council voted 5-0 at the end of the May 8 meeting to commit as least $225,000 as the city's share and another $50,000 for yearly maintenance, ensuring the 50-acre Lake Wyman Restoration Project would become a reality.

Final approval for zoning changes made Ocean Strand a wrap for now. It was almost anti-climactic, and not because A1A or Golden Triangle neighbors gave up. They had just their say after months of wrangling, for better or worse.

"Wow, I didn't think tonight would ever come," activist Joe Pedalino told council after his keepyourbocabeachespublic.com campaign paid off. "It has been a one-year process for City Council, two and half years for our group and 17 years for Ocean Strand."

Boca Towers and other neighbors mobilized, fearing council or the Greater Boca Raton Beach & Park District would turn over the land for use as a private beach club for the Via Mizner project. There were even moves for a ballot initiative and a lawsuit.

But the 14.85-acre property on both sides of A1A south of Spanish River finally changed, from zoned for 141 units as medium-density residential, to recreation and public use.

The only unresolved detail was directing the Beach & Park District, which owns the site, to conduct a study before designating the land for use, suggested Councilman Mike Mullaugh. Pedalino's group ultimately wants a handicap-accessible park, but there are no immediate plans.

Meanwhile, City Council was backed against as wall, as the county and the Florida Inland Navigation District pushed for a commitment on their nearly $3 million project. It would add picnic areas, a boat dock, more boardwalks and an observation platform and sink acres of land for sea grass behind Lake Wyman and Rutherford parks on the west side of the Intracoastal Waterway.

City Manager Leif Ahnell summarized the costs before the vote. He said dredging would include material moved to the soccer field at Lake Wyman Park to resolve flooding. The city expected to split the costs with Beach & Park, but district chairman Earl Starkoff said Monday that the district hadn't made a commitment.

"FIND will install, but not maintain a marker for shallow water," a neighborhood concession, he added.

Two city advisory boards and private citizens vouched for the project. But some neighbors wanted an independent study on how the tides would flush in a neighborhood built on canals. They asked for a sinking fund to maintain the mangroves and canoe trails the city had allowed to overgrow. There were concerns about mosquitoes.

"I hate to see more than 5 acres submerged…" said Councilman Anthony Majhess.

Mayor Susan Whelchel said she doesn't usually "jump over our five- or 10-year plan, but this project is unique," adding "it troubles me some."

"The neighbors will be watchdogs," Golden Harbour board member Steve Reiss, who sat through the meeting, said.

"We tried to represent the interests of Golden Harbour, as well as the other citizens," Golden Harbour president Christine Cherepy said by phone afterward.

Left unresolved is what government, if any, will dredge the canals or keep silt from building up enough to let boats free to get in and out.